Matthew 26:63-64
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The high priest's desperate demand, "I adjure you by the living God," isn't just a plea for truth; it's a calculated trap. By invoking God and demanding an oath, he forces Jesus into a corner where any answer can be twisted into blasphemy, either by confessing to divinity they deemed heretical or by remaining silent and appearing guilty.
But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has been arrested and is now facing a trial before the high priest and the Jewish council, where false witnesses have accused him. After a period of silence, the high priest, desperate to break Jesus' quiet defense, formally puts him under oath, demanding a direct answer about his identity as the Christ, the Son of God. This solemn questioning sets the stage for Jesus' confession, which will lead to his condemnation.
Why would Jesus, facing the most critical moment of his life, choose silence? It wasn't a sign of guilt or weakness, but a strategic divine choice.
In the face of false accusations and a rigged trial, Jesus deliberately remained silent. This wasn't a fearful response, but a powerful act of self-control and wisdom.
When the high priest shifts from accusations to a solemn oath, Jesus' response changes dramatically. What's the significance of this sacred command?
The high priest's words, 'I adjure you by the living God,' were more than just a strong request; they were a formal, sacred oath invoking God's name. This solemnity demanded a direct response from Jesus.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
exorkizō · Greek Verb
To charge or command someone under oath, often invoking the name of God to ensure the truthfulness of the response.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Greek translation of the Hebrew 'Messiah' (Anointed One), referring to the King chosen and consecrated by God to deliver His people and establish His kingdom.
huios Theou · Greek Noun phrase
A title indicating Jesus' unique, divine nature as the second person of the Trinity, possessing the same essence as the Father.
huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun phrase
A messianic title used by Jesus referring to Himself, rooted in Daniel 7:13-14, highlighting His humanity, heavenly authority, and future role as judge.
dynamis · Greek Noun
A reverent circumlocution for God, often used by Jews to avoid speaking the Divine Name (YHWH) directly, emphasizing His majesty and sovereignty.
The high priest's adjuration forces Jesus to confess his identity as the Christ, the Son of God, a confession that Jesus knows will lead to his death but also confirms his divine mission.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Trial Before the Sanhedrin
Following his arrest, Jesus was brought before the Jewish high council, the Sanhedrin, led by High Priest Caiaphas. This was the start of his illegal nocturnal trial.
c. AD 30
False Testimony and Jesus' Silence
Witnesses were brought to testify against Jesus, but their accounts were contradictory. Jesus remained silent, likely because the testimony was flawed and he recognized the council's intent.
c. AD 30
The High Priest's Solemn Question
Unable to gain a confession from Jesus' silence, High Priest Caiaphas put Jesus under oath, adjuring him by the living God to declare if he was the Christ, the Son of God.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Confession
Jesus responds to the oath by affirming, 'You have said so.' He then adds a prophecy that they will see him return in glory, a statement that seals his condemnation.
c. AD 30
Condemnation for Blasphemy
Caiaphas tears his robes, declaring Jesus guilty of blasphemy. The Sanhedrin then agrees he is worthy of death, setting the stage for his transfer to Roman authorities.
c. AD 30
Mockery and Abuse
After the council's verdict, Jesus endured further mockery and physical abuse from the guards and others present before being taken to Pilate.
This passage shows a similar solemn invocation of God to witness a statement, highlighting the gravity of being called to speak under oath, which the High Priest uses against Jesus.
Daniel 3:25This verse describes a divine figure appearing in the midst of the fire with the king, and in the Septuagint version, the king calls him 'the Son of God,' mirroring the title used by the High Priest to question Jesus.
John 18:34In John's Gospel, Jesus directly answers a similar question about being 'King of the Jews,' showing a contrast in His approach when directly confronted with His identity versus remaining silent under accusation.
Isaiah 53:7This prophetic verse describes the suffering servant who 'was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,' directly paralleling Jesus' silence during His trial.
Mark 14:61This parallel account in Mark's Gospel provides a slightly different phrasing of the High Priest's question, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?', offering a fuller picture of the interrogation Jesus faced.
vincentMatthew 26:63: "But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God."
I adjure theeI call upon thee to swear. The high-priest put Christ upon oath.That (ἵνα)In order that; signifying the design with which he adjured the Lord.
henryMatthew 26:57-68: "And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled."
26:57-68 Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who are willing to be Christ's disciples, are not willing to be known to be so. Here began Peter's denying him: for to follow Christ afar off, is to begin to go back from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be, than curiously to ask w…
The high priest's desperate demand, "I adjure you by the living God," isn't just a plea for truth; it's a calculated trap. By invoking God and demanding an oath, he forces Jesus into a corner where any answer can be twisted into blasphemy, either by confessing to divinity they deemed heretical or by remaining silent and appearing guilty.
Jesus has been arrested and is now facing a trial before the high priest and the Jewish council, where false witnesses have accused him. After a period of silence, the high priest, desperate to break Jesus' quiet defense, formally puts him under oath, demanding a direct answer about his identity as the Christ, the Son of God. This solemn questioning sets the stage for Jesus' confession, which will lead to his condemnation.
Jesus has been arrested and is now facing a trial before the high priest and the Jewish council, where false witnesses have accused him. After a period of silence, the high priest, desperate to break Jesus' quiet defense, formally puts him under oath, demanding a direct answer about his identity as the Christ, the Son of God. This solemn questioning sets the stage for Jesus' confession, which will lead to his condemnation.
"But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seat…" — The high priest's desperate demand, "I adjure you by the living God," isn't just a plea for truth; it's a calculated trap. By invoking God and demanding an oath, he forces Jesus into a corner where *…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
